Releases

Thom Yorke - Susperia 2 LP Pink Vinyl in stores Oct. 26

26 October 2018

Following the fleeting reveal of instrumental passages in two trailers and the release of the track
“Suspirium” it can be confirmed: Thom Yorke’s Suspiria (Music for the Luca Guadagnino Film) will be
released October 26 on XL Recordings.
Suspiria consists of 25 original compositions written by Thom specifically for Luca Guadagnino
reimagining of the 1977 Dario Argento horror classic. The album is a mix of instrumental score work,
interstitial pieces and interludes, and more traditional song structures featuring Thom’s vocals such as
“Unmade”, “Has Ended” and “Suspirium,” the album’s first single featuring the melodic theme that recurs
throughout the film and its score.
As scoring a horror film presented Thom with altogether new challenges and opportunities, Suspiria
stands apart from any of his other work. Piano/vocal ballads, Krautrock-esque modular synth work
inspired by the film’s Berlin 1977 setting, multilayered vocals, and melodies that convey terror, longing
and melancholy combine to create a chaotic yet cohesive musical spell.
Suspiria was written and arranged by Thom Yorke, recorded and produced by Thom and Sam Petts-
Davies. The album also features the London Contemporary Orchestra and Choir, Noah Yorke on drums
on “Has Ended” and “Volk,” and Pasha Mansurov on solo flute on “Suspirium.”
Suspiria (Music for the Luca Guadagnino Film) is available as a UK import 2 CD and 2 LP gatefold
package pressed on pink vinyl with printed inner sleeves with artwork by Stanley Donwood.
The upcoming movie marks the first time Yorke has ever scored a feature film. During a radio interview
last year, he explained how Vangelis’ Blade Runner score inspired his own Suspiria work.
Speaking at the Venice Film Festival over the Labour Day weekend, Yorke admitted that it took “a few
months to even contemplate the idea” of scoring Suspiria and living up to Goblin’s original iconic
soundtrack. “When they first came to see me, the producers and [editor] Walter [Fasano], I just thought
they were mad, because I’ve never done a soundtrack before. And Suspiria is one of those legendary
soundtracks. It was one of those moments in your life where you want to run away but you know you’ll
regret it if you do,” Yorke added. “I watched the original film several times, and I loved it because it was
of that time, an incredibly intense soundtrack. Obviously Goblin and [director] Dario [Argento] worked
incredibly closely when they did it together.”

“On “Suspirium,” Yorke crafts a spellbinding mood with an eerie edge as his voice floats over a plaintive
piano accentuated by the occasional lilt of a flute. Yorke’s lyrics are abstract yet evocative as he sings,
“Is the darkness ours to take? / Bathed in lightning / Bathed in heat.” – Rolling Stone

Once he began working on the score, Yorke likened the process to “making spells.” He elaborated: “I
know it sounds really stupid, but that’s how I was thinking about it. It was a sort of freedom I’ve not had
before. I’ve not worked in the format of song arrangement. I’m just exploring.”
“It’s absolutely terrifying, It’s hard because I’m way out of my comfort zone, and I can’t read music so it’s
not like I’m writing for orchestra. I’m building it all myself. In fact, I watched Blade Runner twice at the
weekend. ‘Oh, that sound, I could do something like that, that’s quite easy,’” he jokes. “‘I’ll rip that bit off
there and that bit there and I’ll be fine.’
In addition to Goblin’s original score for Suspiria, Yorke said he took inspiration from Krautrock and 70’sera
Berlin. “It was just a really cool way to totally immerse myself in an area I wouldn’t normally go with
full permission,” he added.
Director Luca Guadgnino said of the Radiohead frontman: “Thom’s art transcends the contemporary. To
have the privilege of his music and sound for Suspiria is a dream come true. The depth of his creation
and artistic vision is so unique that our Suspiria will sound groundbreaking and will deeply resonate with
viewers. Our goal is to make a movie that will be a disturbing and transforming experience: for this
ambition, we could not find a better partner than Thom.”

Selections:

Side A
A Storm That Took Everything
The Hooks
Suspirium
Belongings Thrown in a River
Has Ended
Klemperer Walks
Open Again